Question: If a patient receives treatment and the condition was resolved, which ICD-9 code should I report if the patient returns in six months for a follow-up visit?

Answer: The most accurate way to code visits to follow up on treatment for a previous condition is to report a V code as the primary diagnosis, with the condition that the optometrist is following up on as the secondary diagnosis.

You can find the follow-up V codes in the V67.x series in the ICD-9 manual. Although none specifically mention eye treatments, these are some examples of V codes that might be applicable:

V67.00 — Follow-up examination; following surgery, unspecified

V67.59 — … following other treatment; other

V67.6 — … following combined treatment

V67.9 — … unspecified follow-up examination.

However, some payers won’t accept a V code as a primary diagnosis to support payment. Some experts advise reporting the...